Graphics support system

ABSTRACT

A graphics panel support, for use with a slotted wall, is an elongate member with a bight portion ( 5 ) for accommodation within a slot in the wall and two arms ( 7, 9 ) which extend from the bight portion to the front surface of the wall. At least one of the arms has a finger ( 11 ) which overlies the front surface of the wall and is spaced therefrom, so that an edge of a graphics panel may be located between the finger and the front surface of the wall.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to graphic support systems and in particular systems for use in connection with slatted walls or slatwalls.

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION

Slatted walls or slatwalls provide a quick and easy display solution whether in connection with a small area of wall space or for, in effect, entire walls within a shop or other establishment.

Slatwalls comprise boards formed with a series of spaced apart, parallel slots, each having a relatively narrow entry portion leading to an enlarged body portion so that the slots may accommodate hooks on which display items may be hung. Slatwall is commonly used within the retail industry to merchandise products and accessories that hang from the slots.

It is known to provide elongate lengths of channel shaped plastics or aluminium material for insertion into the slots of a slatwall and from which hooks may be then suspended to provide the supports for items to be displayed. These inserts protect the edges of the wall slot from damage and can enhance the overall appearance of the assembly.

Such an arrangement is, however, not satisfactory for a display panel, typically bearing printed material of visual interest, such as advertising or other informatory material, which is required to be located on the slatwall extending between a number of slots. Either very expensive self-adhesive material, bearing the printing, has to be used and this material requires skilled fitting. Otherwise, it has been known to print on equally expensive card which is clumsily bowed across several slots and held in place by wedging the edges of the cards into slots. Another method is to use PVC sheets on which graphics are printed, and which is then heat bent to establish a shape that will spring over the face of each slot. This solution is also very expensive and limits the print quality which can be achieved. Furthermore, heat bending over long lengths is unpredictable and often fails in use, causing the graphics material to fall out of the slots.

Both these options are cumbersome, time consuming, inflexible and expensive.

STATEMENTS OF THE INVENTION

According to the present invention there is provided a graphics panel support for use with a slatted wall, the support being an elongate member for insertion into a slot in the slatted wall, the member having a generally channel section with a bight portion shaped to match the profile of the slot and two arms which, in use, extend from the bight portion to the front surface of the wall, at least one of said arms having a finger which overlies the front surface of the wall and is spaced therefrom, whereby the edge of a graphics panel may be located between said finger and the front surface of the wall.

Preferably, each arm of the support is provided with a finger. In this way a single support may accommodate the edge of a panel extending in one direction from a slot and the edge of another panel extending in the opposite direction from the slot.

The present invention also provides a graphics panel display system comprising a plurality of graphic panel supports of the invention. The minimum number of supports in such a system is of course two but the system may provide a single length of the elongate member which may be cut into appropriate lengths for actual use.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings are as follows:

FIG. 1 is a transverse section through a graphics panel support system according to the present invention; and

FIG. 2 shows the graphics panel support of FIG. 1 located within the slot of a slatted wall.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings.

A graphics panel support 1, for use with a slatted wall 3, is an elongate strip of plastics material of generally channel section shape. Strip 1 includes a substantially flat bight portion or base 5 and, extending therefrom, arms 7,9. Arm 7 extends at right angles from the base 5 over about half its length but then turns inwardly (towards the upper arm 9) and then outwardly to form finger 11, the end 13 of which is substantially parallel to base 5.

The other arm 9 extends in a curved manner from base 5 before extending substantially parallel to base 5 to provide a shoulder 15. Arm 9 then turns progressively inwardly and outwardly in much the same manner as in the case of arm 7, terminating in a finger 17 having an end 19 which is substantially parallel to base 5 and which points in the opposite direction to the end 13 of finger 11 of arm 9.

As a result of the profile of arms 7 and 9, there is provided an entrance 21 into the channel section which is of relatively reduced dimension between the arms 7 and 9 and, beyond this entrance 21, a body portion 23 of relatively large dimension.

Strip 1 may be located within the slot 25 of the slatted wall 3 as indicated in FIG. 2, with foot portion 15 fitting snugly into one of the wings 26 of slot 25. The face of the bight portion 14 is such as to match that of the slot 25 but, as is illustrated, it does not have to occupy the whole of slot 24. It is sufficient if it occupies only p[art of the slot 25 and that the panel support is firmly held in place within the slot.

In position, the fingers 11,17 at the ends of arms 7,9 are located outwardly of front surface 27 of slot 3, in each case providing a small space 29 between the rear of the fingers 11,17 and the front surface 27 of the wall. A graphics display panel, which may be a sheet of card of, for instance, about 1 mm thickness, may have its upper edge located within the gap 29 formed behind finger 17. A lower edge of the card may then be located in an upwardly turned finger of strip 1 which has been positioned into a lower slot. In this way the card, which is appropriately dimensioned, may fit firmly and snugly between two strips 1.

If desired, a further graphics display panel may be positioned with its lower edge between finger 11 and the front surface 29 of wall 3. The upper edge of this panel will then be positioned between a downwardly pointing finger of a further strip which is located the appropriate distance above that shown in FIG. 2.

The strip 1 may be made of any suitable material. Examples of suitable materials include not only plastics material but also appropriate metals such as aluminium. 

1. A graphics panel support for use with a slatted wall, the support being an elongate member for insertion into a slot in the slatted wall, the member having a generally channel section with a bight portion shaped to match the profile of the slot and two arms which, in use, extend from the bight portion to the front surface of the wall, at least one of said arms having a finger which overlies the front surface of the wall and is spaced therefrom, whereby the edge of a graphics panel may be located between said finger and the front surface of the wall.
 2. A support according to claim 1, wherein each arm is provided with a finger.
 3. A support according to claim 1 made out of plastics material.
 4. (canceled)
 5. (canceled)
 6. A graphics panel display system comprising a plurality of graphics panel supports as claimed in claim
 1. 7. A support according to claim 1, wherein at least one of said arms includes a shoulder that matches an inner contour of the slot.
 8. A support according to claim 7, wherein said bight portion is substantially flat and wherein one of said arms includes the shoulder and the other of said arms extends generally at a right angle to said bight portion. 